---- Chapter 6 "Bianca, did you put the watch I gave you up for bid?" Ismiled lightly, and lied without hesitation. "That wasn't my watch. Didn't Candice and her husband get a matching set, too? She wants to switch to anew one, so she asked me to help sell hers." Lars stood there for a few seconds, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Really? For a dollar?" Then, his tone softened. "Bianca, I know I've neglected you lately." He sat on the edge of the bed and reached out for me. "If you're upset, just tell me. Don't bottle it all up and stress yourself, okay?" "Alright," I said. "After my mom passed away last year, you're all I have left." His voice was low. "Trust me. No matter what happens... You've always been the most. important person to me." I leaned against him in his arms, catching a faint whiff of rose scent on his jacket. ---- "It's late. I want to sleep," I whispered. "Let me hold you a little longer," he said. "Is something bothering you lately? Just give me a few more days. Once things settle down, we can talk." Yeah, right. He had been busy lining up for cakes, planning birthday surprises, filling trunks with pink roses, and making Pearl happy without me noticing. True, he was quite busy indeed. Lars looked at me, brushing the corner of my eye. " Why are your eyes red? Were you just crying?" I was about to answer, but his phone rang. Lars let go and turned away to answer it, frowning as he walked out. At that moment, every bit of tenderness disappeared from his face. I remained where I was and called his name: "Lars." Yet, he didn't even look back. I got up and walked to the window, watched as he hurried downstairs and drove away, his last words ---- still echoing in my ears: "You've always been the most important person to me." I didn't need those words anymore. With a marker, I drewa line across the calendar. Tomorrow was his birthday. It would also be my last night in Eastwind City. Ihad already ordered a birthday cake for him. We had spent so many years together, after all. I shredded our photos on the wall into pieces and threw them in the bin. From now on, this place had nothing to do with me anymore. Maybe it was because I had missed my meds for days, but I was awoken by my stomach pains early the next morning. My thoughts went back to the first year we started the company... Just the two of us, and less than two thousand in the bank. To survive, Lars helped me chase clients, and I pulled all-nighters with him. We split hamburgers, and I was drinking for him at parties. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!